Preparation of printing-surfaces.



B. A. BROOKS. PREPARATION OF PRINTING SURFACES;

964,205. APPLICATION PILBDMAR. 12, 1907." "Patented .Julyllz 1910.

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B. A. BROOKS. PREPARATION OF PRINTING SURFACES.

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- ,B A.' BROOKS. PREPARATION OF PRINTING SURFACES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1907. 964:,205a

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964,205 APPLICATION FILED MAR-12, 1907. Patented 12 4 SHEETS-SHEET '4.

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BYRON A. BROOKS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR 'IO BANDOTYPE COMPANY, A.

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PREPARATION OF PRINTING-SURFACES.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 12, 19M).

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BYRON A. BRooKs, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the city of New York, county ofKings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovement-s in Apparatus for the Preparation of Printing-Surfaces, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the preparationof printing surfaces, and it consists in certain novel processes andcombination of parts particularly pointed out in the claims concludingthis specification.

In so far as my invention relates to novel apparatus, it will beunderstood that various modifications and changes may be made in theapparatus described, which is the form of embodiment of my inventionwhich is at present preferred by me, and that in so far as my inventionrelates to novel processes, any suitable means may be employed forcarrying out the same.

In my application Serial No. 268,773 I have shown an improved apparatusadapted especially for the preparation of ,planographic printingsurfaces. The present invention while relating to a machine embodyingmany features similar to those described in that application, difierstherefrom in that instead of relating to planographic printing itappertains to the preparation of printing surfaces other thanplanographic surfaces, and further difiers in that it involves the useof electrical means in the preparation of the surfaces. That is to say,in the present instance I have in view the practice of electricallyheating the type bars, so that when brought into contact with the lineblocks the heated surface of the types will make an impression upon therelatively softer block, thus producing a matrix; or, I may form thetype bars as matrix type, so that when heated by the electric currentraised types will be formed upon the block instead of the depressedtype; or, I may first lead the current through the soft line blocks sothat the metal is melted to run into the matrix type bars.

A further object of my invention is to dispense with the melting pot inlinotype and similar machines and also gas burners usually employed insuch machines with the resultant difliculty of keeping the metal atuniform temperature. By this means I also dispense with the heat andfumes attendant in the use of such burners. As it is the practice toremelt linotype bars after they have been used I construct my mechanismwith reference to the use of such bars, or ordinary blank bars of typemetal. In place of the melting pot usually employed containing a largequantity of metal which must all be heated to the proper degree and fromwhich a portion is ejected a plunger or pump at each cast, I use a smallplate or box heated by a current of electricity upon which, or intowhich, a metal bar is placed and heated or fused and then ejected fromthe melting box into the mold and pressed against the face of a matrixtype by which a cast of a new linotype bar is made containing thecharacters opposed by the types. By this means also I avoid overheatingthe body of metal as in a melting pot. The heat produced by the electriccurrent is practically uniform and self-regulating so that the portionof metal subjected to it is not overheated, no matter how long itremains in the melting box and the quantity of metal in the melting boxremains practically uniform as a new bar or slug is inserted by the sameoperation by which the bar is cast. By this means both the metal andheat are economized as only suflicient is employed to cast one slug orbar at a time. It is evident that where an old linotype bar is used itmust be entirely remelted in order to cast a new one. In case of itsbeing necessary to change the size of the linotypes to be cast it isonly necessary to change the size of the bars which are fed into themelting box to correspond with the size of the mold. In practice a smallquantity of metal is left in the melting box to insure sufficientquantity to fill the mold. After the cast the mold is removed with thetype bar by automatic means and a new slug inserted in the melting boxwhere it remains until the operation is completed by casting a new bar.All these operations fol low in proper sequence by the operation of thecams automatically as shown.

In the operation above described, wherein the plunger acting upon asolid bar ejects the molten metal from the melting box and into themold, it will be observed that as the plunger is retracted a solid baris left in the melting box and before this bar is melted sufficiently toflow, the plunger in its retractive movement has passed the magazine,permitting a solid bar from the latter to drop down in front of thecasting box thereby closing the front of the box against the backwardflow of metal.

In the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed I adopt for theassembly of the type-bars-the types being of any approved form as raisedtypes-their justification, presentation at the printing point andremoval therefrom and distribution, the mechanism set forth in LettersPatent of the United States No. 506,198, granted October 3, 1893, forline-casting machine, on application of lVilbur Stephen Scudder, wherebysimilar operations are performed upon matrix-bars and the bars arebrought to the casting point in the same manner as the type-bars areherein brought to the printing position. As no modification is necessarywhatever in the mechanism required for the above enumerated operations,they are not herein illustrated in detail, and reference is hereby madeto the specifications and drawings of the above patent for such detailedillustration and description as may be necessary for a completeunderstanding of such parts of the mechanism of the machine in which Ihave embodied my invention.

Referring now to the accompanying sheets of drawings, which form a partof this applicationFigure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying myinvention, omitting however, the guide-rod bearings of the guide-rodswhich support the pusher-plate of the distributing mechanism. Fig. 2 isa cross-section on the line IIII of Fig. 1, showing the mechanism forinking and printing. Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-III of Fig. 1,showing the mechanism for feeding and discharging the line blocks. Fig.4 is a face and edge view respectively of each of the type-bars whichcompose the series used in the machine. Fig. 5 is an edge and face viewof one of the spacers, represented extended at the left, and at theright represented with the lower section pushed up into the upper one toenlarge the space produced by the spacer. Fig. 6 is a top plan Viewshowing the arrangement of the electrical heating apparatus inconnection with the invention. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the blockcarrier. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view showing the electric heaterin operative position relative to the type bar and molding mechanism.Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a modification. Fig. 10 is anenlarged detail view of a portion of Fig. 9;

The machine as illustrated is arranged for printing ninety-six differentcharacters grouped in eight groups of twelve each according to width,all the characters in any group being of the same width and placed onthe same type-bar. There aretherefore eight species of type-bars a to ainclusive. The characters for each group are so selected that all twelvein any group may be of the same width without departing appreciably fromstandard proportions. Each bar has a hook a differing in length from thehook of any other species. Each bar has on its rear edge eight aliningnotches a corresponding in number and position to the relief type on thefront edge. The faces of the relief type are at the front edges of thebar, the types being formed by cutting away the face around and betweenadjacent types. The end types of each bar are preferably not placed atthe extreme ends of the bar, but instead they are set a little back fromthe ends, and projections a are left standing for convenience inleveling bars.

The spacer is composed of two sections 2, a each wedge-shaped. The uppersection has a hook e and on its rear edge a lug e The two sections arecombined for jointoperation in the manner set forth in United StatesLetters Patent No. 494,899, granted April 4, 1893,'to .Vilbur StephenScudder, except that the upper section is cut back at the printinglevel, and the lower section is made somewhat narrower than the uppersection, the face being set back particularly along that portion whichmay come at the printing level, so that both sections will lie below thetype faces at the printing level for spacing the words.

The magazine delivery mechanism and keyboard is constructed inaccordance with the above Patent No. 506,198, and only the principalparts will be pointed out, the same reference characters as in thepatent being adopted. The magazine for containing a supply of type-barsand spacers is divided into eight chambers A to A and a spacer chamberZ. In the upper part of the magazine and extending lengthwise of eachchamber is a supporting guide-wire d upon which the type-bars andspacers hang by their hooks. On manipulation of the keys E the type-barsand spacers are delivered from the magazine, and suitably assembled inthe line carriage H, then through the operation ofcam 1, they aretransferred along the raceway, first to the justifier, described indetail in the above mentioned patent, by which the lower sections of thespacers are lifted to effect justification. The justifier is ahorizontal shoe which underlies the assembled line of type-bars when inthe raceway alongside of the magazine. A cam 2 operating through a leverI lifts the shoe to effect justification.

The line blocks 25 which form matrices are placed in a magazine V fromthe bottom of which they are transferred to a block carrier J havingtherein a space or mold 43 by an ejector P actuated by the cam 10. Theblock carrier is then shifted lengthwise of a guide bar J to theposition by a cam 9. A finger J depending from the block carrier engagesa slide J which derives its motion from the cam 9 through a link Jpivoted lever J engaging through toothed sectors with another lever Jwhich carries a roller stud engaging with the cam.

When the block is shifted to the position to receive impression from thetype bars, it is located substantially as is shown in Fig. 2; that is,by the cam 3 pressing the slide K against the rear edge of the block,and the formation of the type is accomplished as follows:

An electric current is led from a suitable source of supply through thewire 30, the binding post 31 and thence through the alining bar 9 to thetype bars. As the slide K moves forward and pushes the line blockagainst the edges of the type bars a circuitis formed through the typebars, the line block and the end portion K of the slide K,.such endportion being insulated as at 33 from the rest of the slide. The currentflowing in this manner heats the type bars and the latter being incontact with the line block,

when the circuit is closed as described, the current passes through thetype bars, the line block and through a suitable path back to the sourceof supply through the wire 31, thus completing its circuit. If desired,instead of forming the type bars with raised faces and employing theline block as a matrix, I may form the type bars with depressed typefaces and thereby heat the line blocks to a suitable point of melting toflow into the depressed or matrix types and form raised characters onthe line blocks. In

, Figs. 6, 7 and 8 I have shown a modification of the invention. In suchinstance I employ an electric heater 40 carried by the stem 41 moved toand from the line block 25, lying in a mold 43 by the cam 42 carried onthe shaft L. Then the slide K pushes the line block into contact withthe face of the type bars, the heater is raised to a point beneath theblock and the latter suitably heated or fused to receive the impressionfrom the type bars.

Another modification of the above clescribed apparatus which I mayemploy is shown in Fig. 9. This consists in feeding the line block intoa melting box or crucible and melting the same before it is pressedagainst the types. That is to say, I mount the heater stationarilyoutside of the mold and beneath the melting box, so that the metal ofthe block is preliminarily heated or fused before passing to the mold43, inthe carrier J, the latter in this case being moved to and from themelting box. By this means the slug is entirely remelted in the box fromwhich it is transferred by plunger K to the space 43 in the carrier J,which thus be comes a mold or casting box. The molten metal beingpressed against the face of the matrix types, a solid line is cast inthe usual manner and is then removed from the face of the types by thecarrier J.

The melting box may be larger than the mold or casting box so as tocontain a supply of metal suflicient to cast one or more bars. The metalis fed into the casting box automatically as a bar is cast, so that themelting box is substantially full at all times or contains suflicientmetal to cast a bar of any required size. It will be seen that by thismeans I dispense entirely with the ordi nary melting pot and burner andmechanism used in moving the melting pot to the mold. Thus the operationis greatly simplified and the unnecessary heat and fumes of melted metalis dispensed with.

In order to free the block from the type after the impression, the guidebar is given a drawback movement actuated by the cam 8. The guide bar isof the same construction and this movement is effected by mechanism asin the above mentioned patent. The block carrier is then shifted back tothe first described position and the block is ejected into a galley R bythe advancing edge of the following block from the magazine. The galleyhas a step-by-step descending movement, to enable it to receivesuccessive blocks, by means of a vertical toothed rack bar which isengaged by a pivoted escapement R. The escapement is actuated by atappet s on the cam disk 10.

After forming the type the bodies of the type-bar are brought into lineso that the hooks will be in place for proper selective engagement bythe distributing mechanism. This involves the relaxing of the hold ofthe carriage, the disengagement of type bars from the alining bar 9 andthe depression of the type-bars by the depressor 0. These operations areeifected from a cam 3, the motion being derived from a rock-shaft L asset forth in the above mentioned patent, the motion of the rock-shaftbeing derived through a crank-arm L, connecting rod L and lever L onwhich is the cam-roll.

The distribution of the type-bars and spacers is efiected by sliding thehooked ends onto distributer wires M each of which is carried by a pairof levers M, M The type-bars and spacers are elevated while hanging fromthe distributer wires upon operation of adistributer cam 6 and thetypebars presented to the admission ends of their respective chambers inthe magazine. The type-bars are transferred from the distributer wiresto the magazine wires by a pusher plate N which is actuated by the cam 7as set forth in the above mentioned patent.

What I claim is 1. In a type casting mechanism the combination of amelting box and a mold, With a magazine containing a plurality of bars 5'-of type metal, said melting box being of substantially the samecapacity as said mold, and automatic mechanism for feeding said barssingly to said melting box and for removing the molten metal therefromto said mold.

2. In a type casting mechanism the combination of a mold and a meltingbox, said melting box containing substantially the same quantity ofmetal as said mold and automatic mechanism for feeding metal bars tosaid melting box and for removing the molten metal therefrom to saidmold.

3. In a type casting mechanism the combination of a receptacle for typemetal, means 2Q for heating said receptacle to melt said metal,automatic means for feeding said metal to said receptacle, and forejecting the metal therefrom, said molten metal being ejected from saidreceptacle by the ac- ".tlOIl of said mechanism upon the solid metal infeeding it into said receptacle.

1. The combination of a receptacle for type metal, electrical means forheating said receptacle, a mold, and automatic mechaniism for removingmetal from said receptacle to said mold and impressing it against a lineof matrix types by the action of said mechanism in feeding metal intothe receptacle.

5. In a type casting mechanism, the combination of a magazine containinga plurality of bars of type metal, a receptacle adapted to receive saidbars, means for heating said receptacle, means for feeding said bars tosaid receptacle, and said metal being ejected from said receptacle bythe action of said feeding means upon a succeeding bar of metal.

6. In a type casting mechanism the combination of a mold, a receptacleadapted to receive a metal bar, electrical means for heating saidreceptacle and automatic mechanism for removing said metal from saidreceptacle to said mold by the action of such Eva mechanism in insertinga new bar in said receptacle.

7. In a type casting mechanism the com bination of a magazine forcontaining a plurality of bars of type metal, a receptacle substantiallyof the size of one of said bars, means for feeding said barssuccessively to said receptacle and means for melting said barsindependently in said receptacle.

8. The combination of a receptacle adapted ,to receive type metal,electrical means for heating said receptacle, and automatic means forfeeding said metal to said receptacle and for ejecting it therefrom,said molten metal being ejected by the action of the feeding mechanismupon the solid metal.

9. In a type casting mechanism, the comfrom said receptacle to the moldby the,

action of said feeding mechanism upon the solid metal.

10. In a type casting mechanism, the combination With a receptacleadapted to receive metal bars, of means for heating said receptacle tomelt said bars, a mold, a plunger for feeding said bars to saidreceptacle and for removing the molten metal therefrom to said mold bythe action of said plunger upon a succeeding bar of metal.

11. In a type casting mechanism, a receptacle adapted to receive solidtype metal, a mold and type adapted to close said receptacle, means forheating said receptacle to melt said metal, and automatic mechanism forfeeding said mechanism to said receptacle and for removing the moltenmetal therefrom and for impressing it against the types by the action ofsaid feeding mechanism upon the solid metal. f

12. In a type casting mechanism, the combination 'of a magazinecontaining solid type metal, a mold, means for melting substantially asufiicient quantity of metal to fill said mold and means for feedingsaid molten metal to said mold by the action of the feeding mechanism onthe solid metal.

13. In a type casting mechanism, the com bination of a receptacle forsolid type metal, electrical means for heating said receptacle,automatic mechanism for feeding said metal to said receptacle, and meansfor removing it therefrom by the action of said mechanism upon the solidmetal.

14. In a type casting mechanism the combination of a receptacle for ty emetal, electrical means for heating sai receptacle, a mold, andautomatic mechanism for feed ing the solid metal to said receptacle andfor removing it therefrom to said mold by the action of said feedmechanism upon the solid metal.

15. In a type casting mechanism the combination of a mold, a meltingbox, a piston,

a magazine for containing metal bars, said piston being adapted todeliver said bars successively to said melting box, and to remove themolten metal therefrom by the action of said piston upon said bars.

16. In a type casting mechanism, the combination of a melting box, amold and feed mechanism constructed and arranged to deliver solid metalto said melting box and to remove the molten metal therefrom to saidmold by the action of said feeding mechanism upon said solid metal..

17. In a type casting mechanism, the combination of a receptacle fortype metal, automatic means for closing said receptacle and for openingit to receive said metal, and means for heating said receptacle to meltthe metal.

18. In a type casting mechanism a receptacle for type metal, means forheating said receptacle to melt the metal, and a piston so constructedand arranged as to open said receptacle to insert the solid metal

